My bloodline is Southern bred, so I'm no stranger to the cultural biases of my non-ethnic peers. Unlike my grandparents, I was never told I couldn't drink from a "white" water fountain or was rejected from school due to my skin color despite by near-perfect GPA.
Though I haven't suffered the heinous crimes against my humanity based on my ethnicity as my ancestors have, I, like other millennial women of color, understand the culture of racial injustice that's been created in our society, and feel that I have a social obligation to impact change.
Using the tools and technology afforded to our social media centric generation, women are finding ways to not only publicly criticize the system, but to implement a new one that reflects equality. Among this group of revolutionaries is Stacey Abrams, the 44-year-old Democratic Spelmanite that has the potential to change the dynamic of our political system indefinitely.
Last night, Stacey Abrams was victorious against her opponent, Stacey Evans, in The Democratic gubernatorial primary and if she continues her winning streak, will become the first black woman to be US governor, ever. In Georgia, a state that's never had a female governor and is dominated by republicans, this is huge.
The election was nicknamed Stacey Abrams Vs Stacey Evans and has been called one of the nastiest Democratic primaries of 2018. Both candidates had a similar goal, uniting the party during the Trump Era, but executed using different strategies.
Abrams was consistent in her strategy of targeting minority and millennial voters, while Evans focused on winning over white swing voters. Abrams won 75% of the votes in the election, proving that the demographic that was once considered the minority now has a great deal of influence politically.
At her victory party last night, she said:
"We are writing the next chapter of Georgia history, where no one is unseen, no one is unheard and no one is uninspired, Now let's go get it done."
As a daughter of two ministers and sister two five other siblings, Abrams noticed the discrepancies in the political system at an early age. The trailblazer got her start in politics in highschool when she acted as a volunteer for a congressional campaign and earned the job of a professional speechwriter.
After receiving her law degree from Yale, she ran for the Georgia House of Representatives in 2006, became minority leader in 2011, and is now on track to serve us some melanin magic from the governor's mansion.
According to Vox, it's extremely rare for a black woman to be elected into any elective office, Abrams victory would secure her position on a short-list of three other women, two of which are democrats. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, she said:
"My being a black woman is not a deficit. It is a strength. Because I could not be where I am had I not overcome so many other barriers. Which means you know I'm relentless, you know I'm persistent, and you know I'm smart."
Her current initiatives include running for president in 2028, and in the meantime rallying unregistered minority voters, thereby giving a voice to the voiceless. Women like Stacey offer hope that our grandchildren won't have to endure a system as corrupt as we or our grandparents have.
You go, girl.
Featured image by Getty Images
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“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
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Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
Lenny quickly explained why he named his home after The Jeffersons star. “It was her dream to come live in Paris,” he explained. “She wanted to retire after doing 11 seasons of The Jeffersons and she never got to do it. So I’m doing it for both of us.”
Architectural Digest YouTube/ Screenshot
The “American Woman” artist, Lenny, revealed that he had been residing in the house for 22 years. During this time, he has amassed a collection of unique pieces and crafted custom furniture that adorns every corner of the home.
From African artwork to Swarovski crystal chandeliers, Lenny’s home is a true spectacle. “This house continuously pays tribute to my ancestors,” he said.
Architectural Digest YouTube/ Screenshot
Most rooms in the house feature photographs of prominent Black figures, such as the renowned photographer Gordon Parks and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. The petit salon, which he refers to as the Roxie room, is adorned with his mother's photos.
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Architectural Digest YouTube/ Screenshot
He shared that one of the first pieces he designed under his company, Kravitz Design, was the Swarovski crystal chandelier in his grand salon. He often finds many of his unique pieces by browsing the local flea market and small boutiques.
When it comes to his bedroom, the “Fly Away” artist takes a minimalistic approach. Focusing more on creating a calming vibe. He finds comfort in the Moroccan rugs that cover the floor, occasionally even sleeping on them.
Architectural Digest YouTube/ Screenshot
The father of one ended his tour in the basement, which was designed to be a club. Check out the full tour below.
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Feature image Architectural Digest YouTube/ Screenshot